JORDAN Lilley's campaign didn't get off to the best of starts, with the half-back suffering a PCL injury prior to the season's curtain-raiser.

The creative star was beginning to flourish in the Bulls side last season, forming a strong partnership with the now retired Danny Brough, so for Bradford and Lilley it was a massive blow- the number seven being ruled out for a total of eight weeks.

However, 'The magic man' finally got to grace the rugby league turf at the weekend in Bradford's 21-20 victory at home to Batley Bulldogs and he made a brilliant impression- assisting two tries, whilst also striking the winning drop-goal eight minutes from time.

Following the game, Lilley spoke of his relief to be back on the field. He said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be back playing again and doing what I love.

"It has been a long eight weeks and it has meant that I've had to spend a lot of time doing physiotherapy, where I've been trying to get my knee stronger. It's a tough time when you're alone in that physio room and you've got none of the boys around you, but I've got to give credit to the physios themselves. They've been brilliant."

Lilley added: "I feel really good after the 80 minutes I played. I think as a team it was about grinding the result out and I think we did that well. We went down to 12 men on two occasions, so it was about staying strong and we did exactly that.

"We were out on our feet in the end but we kept in there and saw it through- which is the important thing to take away. They broke us down at times but we worked for each other and that's what we want to continue doing. We want to be a team that know one feels comfortable playing against."

It wasn't the first time in which Lilley has had to strike a match defining drop-goal, more recently against Featherstone and Halifax two seasons ago.

The half-back admitted it's something he has become accustomed to. He said: "It's all about practice when it comes to those pressured situations. It's the hours I put in behind the scenes which help with moments like this."

"But actually, if people saw some of my attempts in training then they would be surprised if I could kick a drop goal in a game situation", Lilley joked.